Cartridge magazine for power tools

ABSTRACT

A cartridge magazine for power tools by virtue of which the loading of the tool with a cartridge is semi-automated and a great number of such cartridges are stored in this magazine in readiness for a rapid reloading of the tool. The cartridges are contained behind one another in a channel and the part constituting the channel is tiltable between two end positions, in one of which the channel communicates with a cartridge chamber in the inner end of the barrel of the tool.

The present invention relates to a magazine for cartridges which is usedin power tools and constitutes a means for simplifying the reloading ofthe tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In most shooting implements the loading procedure is cumbersome andtime-consuming, since both pin or bolt and propellant charge has to beapplied in the implement, before it is ready for shooting. Certainattempts have been made earlier to automate parts of the procedure, butas a consequence the implement became complicated and expensive tomanufacture. If the demand for automation of the procedure is not higherthan that certain manipulations might be forestalled, a cheap and simpledevice can nevertheless achieve a considerable simplification of theprocedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a device on a cartridgemagazine is presented, by virtue of which the loading of the tool with apropellant charge is semiautomated and a great number of such chargesare stored in this magazine in readiness for a rapid reloading of thetool. The magazine is arranged so that it can readily be exchanged in aholder on the tool and by using several magazines a rapid and simpleloading is made possible without the loss of time brought about by thefilling up of the magazine. These advantages, and possibly also othersare obtained in accordance with the invention by a design of a cartridgemagazine in which the cartridges are contained behind one another in achannel and the part of the magazine which constitutes the channel istiltable between two end positions, in one of these the channelcommunicates with a cartridge chamber arranged in the tool in the innerend of the barrel of the tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some examples of the realization of the magazine in accordance with theinvention are described in the following with reference to the encloseddrawing, which shows in

FIG. 1 a tubular magazine with holder on a power tool;

FIG. 2 a drum magazine intended for the same holder as the magazine inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a variant of a drum magazine together with holder for the same;

FIG. 4 the holder for the magazine in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 a locking and guiding device for one of the magazines;

FIG. 7 a drum magazine with a pivoted loading tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

On the drawing is shown a power tool which is operated with cartridges 2which are introduced into the cartridge chamber 3 one by one and fired.The tool is intended originally to be loaded with one cartridge directlyinto the cartridge chamber, to be closed and fired, whereupon theloading procedure is repeated. This longwinded procedure which comprisestaking the cartridges one by one from a box or the like and insertingthem into the cartridge chamber, is eliminated by arranging a cartridgemagazine 4, 5 or 6, placed in FIG. 1 on top of the tool and in FIGS. 3and 4 at the side of the same. The drawings also indicate that the toolmust have a special design to allow the employment of such a cartridgemagazine. The tool is shown in pulled out condition, that is to say itsbarrel 7 with driving piston inside it has been pulled out of the body 8of the tool to a loading position, the cartridge chamber 3 being laidbare in a loading opening 9 in the body.

The solution in principle of the problem to contrive a cartridgemagazine in accordance with the invention will now be shown anddescribed in connection with FIG. 1. Above the rear portion of the body8 a holder 10 is fixed which has a transverse axle 11 which carries thetubular cartridge magazine 4. This is provided on the underside with atransverse notch 12 (FIG. 2) in which there is a spring catch, so thatthe magazine can be mounted on the axle 11 and be maintained on the sameby means of the notch and the catch. In the holder 10 is also a spring13 which presses on the magazine, so that the same is maintained inraised position (broken lines in FIG. 1). At the rear end of themagazine is a screw cap 14 which covers the rear opening of themagazine. When the cap is removed cartridges 2 can be filled in throughthis opening.

The loading of the tool with a cartridge 2 takes place in such a way,that the barrel 7 is pulled into the loading position (shown) and thefront end of the magazine is pressed down by hand into the loadingposition at the same time as the tool is inclined somewhat forwards. Thecartridges will then under their own weight fall downwards/forwards inthe magazine and the frontmost cartridge enters into the cartridgechamber 3. The magazine is then raised again into the position shown inbroken lines by the spring 13, but not higher than that the cartridgesin the tube are prevented by the front wall 15 in the loading openingfrom falling out. The tool is then closed up and after pushing a pininto its mouthpiece 16 it is ready for shooting. A tubular magazine ofthe type as shown in FIG. 1 holds about 15 cartridges and, as mentionedearlier, can readily be filled up when requied.

A substantially increased space for cartridges is obtained by realizingthe magazine in accordance with FIG. 2. This realization has the shapeof a drum 17, comprising a number of axial channels 18 accomodating thecartridges 2. The drum is located in a housing 19 from which extends atube 20 in a forward direction. Underneath the housing is a socket 21for the holder 10. The drum can be rotated inside the housing and hasdefined angular positions which each correspond to a connection of anyone of the channels 18 to the tube 20. The cartridges in the channelconnected are then able to drop through the tube towards the cartridgechamber 3, when the magazine is mounted on the tool. The drum can beextracted from the tool and either be filled up again with newcartridges or be substituted by a full magazine. The loading procedurefor the rest is the same as that described above in connection with themagazine in accordance with FIG. 1.

The design of the body with loading opening as shown on the drawing alsoallows the arrangement of a cartridge magazine 6 at one side of theloading opening, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This magazine consistsof a drum 22, supported in a bracket 23, which in its turn is set up ina holder 24 on the tool. The bracket is mounted on the holder so that itcan be folded down and extend in collapsed position into the loadingopening, while it is normally held in the position as shown by a helicalspring 25. In the front part of the bracket is a hole 26 to which can beconnected every one of the channels 18 by rotation of the drum. Thecartridges in the channel connected to the hole can then all forwardstowards the cartridge chamber 3, when the magazine is held in foldeddown position. In raised position (shown) the cartridges are held inposition in the channel, since the hole 26 is then covered by the frontwall 15, as mentioned before in respect of the magazine 4 and 5. Thedrum 22 can be removed from the bracket by pulling the same a littleapart, so that a pivot 27 projecting on the drum can slide out of thehole 28 in the bracket where it is journalled. A drum filled withcartridges is put in position by pulling the bracket away, so that apivot 27 in each end of the drum can slide into the corresponding hole28 in the bracket, whereupon the pivots thanks to the restoring springforce in the bracket, are retained in the holes.

The use of the magazine 6 is fully analogous to that describedpreviously in connection with magazines 4 and 5, that is to say, thetool is loaded by pulling out the barrel to the position shown,inclining the tool forwards, folding the magazine down into the loadingopening, so that a cartridge has the opportunity of dropping into thecartridge chamber and, after the magazine has reverted to its normalposition, the barrel is pushed back in again.

A device apt to facilitate still further the loading procedure is shownin FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 5 the device is shown in rest position and inFIG. 6 in loading position. The cartridge tube 4 is the same as shown inFIG. 1, except that it has been provided in this embodiment with alocking and controlling device, by means of which the centering of themagazine in loading position takes place, and the cartridges areretained when the magazine is in rest position. As can be seen fromFIGS. 5, 6 the magazine has a body 29 with a holder 30, fixed on an axleon the upper side of the tool. Between the body and the tube 4 a leafspring 31 is inserted with forward tension. Its front end has a doubleband 32 and the bottom part of this is located in rest position (FIG.5), thanks to the clamping of the spring, in front of the mouth of thetube, thus preventing the cartridges 2 from dropping out of the tube.

In loading position (FIG. 6) the spring and the front end of the bodyconstitute a guiding device for the tube. This device is suitable fortools which have a cartridge chamber somewhat drawn back from thebarrel, such as shown in FIG. 6. The cartridge chamber is located in aplug 33 in the rear end of the barrel and against this plug rest thebody and the spring in loading position, so that the mouth of the tubeis centered exactly opposite the cartridge chamber. The cartridges withwhich the tool is loaded can then drop freely into the cartridgechamber.

A still further embodiment of a magazine according to the invention isshown in FIG. 7. On the rear portion of the tool a housing 34 isfastened and its inner cylindrical spacing is adapted to accomodate adrum 17 provided with axial channels as described with reference to FIG.2. The drum can be rotated in the housing, and a spring ball 35 snapsinto recesses 36 in the periphery of the drum, when any one of thechannels 18 faces the tube 20, which connects the channel and thecartridge chamber. This tube is pivoted at the front end of the housingby means of a pin 37, which penetrates a lug 38 projecting on theunderside of the tube. The tube is usually kept in a raised position bymeans of a spring 39 secured to the front end of the housing and actingon a knob 40 on the topside of the tube. The front end of the tube can,against the force of this spring, be pushed down to the cartridgechamber, when loading takes place.

The embodiments of the invention described above are preferredrealizations. Other realizations and additional devices may however comewithin the scope of the invention, e.g., handles, catches etc. forfacilitating the taking in and out of the magazine or the holdingmovement itself. The tube may also include a spring for the pushingforward of the cartridges. The invention is defined in its entirety inthe following claims.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A cartridge magazine for loading cartridgesinto a cartridge chamber disposed in an inner end of a barrel of a powertool, said magazine being adapted to be fixed on the outside of the toolin a holder means and being provided with at least one channel in whichthe cartridges are contained in series behind one another, wherein atleast the part of the magazine which constitutes the channel is tiltablebetween two end positions, and that in one of said positions the channelcommunicates with the cartridge chamber of the tool to effect loadingthereof..]. .[.2. Cartridge magazine in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe holder means is provided with an elastic device which acts upon thetiltable part of the magazine in the direction of the cartridgechamber..]. .[.3. Cartridge magazine in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe channel is formed by a tube, open at the end towards the cartridgechamber, and wherein a cap is provided to close the other end of thetube..]. .[.4. Cartridge magazine in accordance with claim 3, whereinthe tube forms a weak S-bend..]. .[.5. Cartridge magazine in accordancewith claim 1 including a multitude of channels lying next to one anotherin a rotatable drum inside a casing and provided with a connectingchannel to the cartridge chamber..]. .[.6. Cartridge magazine inaccordance with claim 5, wherein the connecting channel is formed by aweakly S-bent tube disposed between the casing and the cartridgechamber..]. .[.7. Cartridge magazine in accordance with claim 6, whereinthe tube is pivoted to the casing and held in raised position by aspring..]. .[.8. Cartridge magazine in accordance with claim 5, whereinthe drum is mounted between two sides of the casing which is mountedtiltable in said holder means and that the connecting channel isconstituted of a hole in a side of said casing towards the cartridgechamber..]. .[.9. Cartridge chamber in accordance with claim 3, whereinthe tube is fixed in a body provided with a catch device in the form ofa springy stop which is normally pushed over the open end of thetube..]. .[.10. Cartridge magazine in accordance with claim 3, wherein ahelical spring is provided in the tube which pushes the cartridge in thetube in a direction from the cap forwards..]. .[.11. Cartridge magazinein accordance with claim 5, wherein the drum is provided with recesses,one for every channel, and that a catch is provided in the casing tosnap into such a recess, the catch, the recess and the inlet end of theconnecting channel being positioned in relation to each other so thatthe catch snaps into a recess when the corresponding channel faces theinlet end of the connecting channel..]. .Iadd.
 12. A cartridge magazinefor loading cartridges into a cartridge chamber disposed in an inner endof a barrel of a power tool, said magazine being adapted to be fixed onthe outside of the tool in a holder means and being provided with arotatable drum having a multitude of channels lying next to one anotherin which cartridges are contained in series behind one another, whereinthe drum is mounted inside a casing which is mounted in said holdermeans and tiltable between two end positions, and wherein one of thechannels in one of said end positions of the casing communicates withthe cartridge chamber of the tool to effect loading thereof..Iaddend..Iadd.
 13. A cartridge magazine according to claim 12, whereinthe holder means is provided with an elastic device which acts upon thecasing in the direction of the cartridge chamber. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 14. Acartridge magazine according to claim 12, wherein the drum is mountedbetween two sides of the casing and an opening is provided in a side ofthe casing towards the cartridge chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 15. Acartridge magazine for loading cartridges into a cartridge chamberdisposed in an inner end of a barrel of a power tool, said magazinebeing adapted to be fixed of the outside of the tool in a holder meansand being provided with a rotatable drum mounted inside a casing andhaving a multitude of channels lying next to one another in whichcartridges are contained in series behind one another, said magazinealso being provided with a connecting channel disposed between the drumand the cartridge chamber, wherein at least that part of the magazineconstituting the connecting channel is tiltable between two endpositions, so that in one of said positions the connecting channelcommunicates at one end with the cartridge chamber and at the other endwith one of said channels containing cartridges to effect loading of thetool. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 16. A cartridge magazine according to claim 15,wherein the holder means is provided with an elastic device which actsupon the tiltable part of the magazine in the direction of the cartridgechamber. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 17. A cartridge magazine according to claim 15,wherein the connecting channel comprises a tube formed as a weak S-bend..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 18. A cartridge magazine according to claim 15, whereinthe drum is provided with recesses, one for every channel, a catch beingprovided in the casing to snap into one of said recesses, and whereinthe catch, the recess and the inlet end of the connecting channel arepositioned in relation to each other so that the catch snaps into arecess when the corresponding channel faces the inlet end of theconnecting channel. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 19. A cartridge magazine for loadingcartridges into a cartridge chamber disposed in the inner end of abarrel of a power tool, said magazine being adapted to be fixed on theoutside of the tool in a holder means and being provided with a tubeforming a weak S-bend which is open at the end towards the cartridgechamber and closed at the other end, and in which the cartridges arecontained in series behind one another, wherein the tube is fixed in abody provided with a catch device in the form of a springy stop which isnormally pushed over the open end of the tube, and said body is mountedin the holder means and tiltable between two end positions, in one ofthese positions the springy stop being pushed away from the open end ofthe tube which thereby communicates with the cartridge chamber of thetool to effect loading thereof. .Iaddend.